Shondaland Reteams With 'Scandal' Producer for ABC Legal Drama

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Paul William Davies will pen the script for the project, which has received a hefty pilot-production commitment from the network.

ABC is reteaming with Shondaland and a Scandal producer for a new legal drama.

The network has handed out a hefty pilot-production commitment to an untitled project from Scandal producer Paul William Davies, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

The drama is set in the Southern District of New York Federal Court, aka "The Mother Court." It follows brand-new lawyers working for both the defense and the prosecution as they handle the most high-profile and high-stakes cases in the country — all as their personal lives intersect.

The project marks the first drama sale (and second overall) of the development season for ABC Studios-based Shondaland, which has a comedy set up at ABC. The company is behind ABC's No. 1-rated drama, Grey's Anatomy, and has How to Get Away With Murder currently airing on Thursdays. Scandal, The Catch and freshman Still Star-Crossed are due midseason.

Davies is repped by WME and attorney Ken Richman; Shondaland is repped by ICM Partners.

Legal dramas continue to be in high demand this development season as broadcasters look for broad fare in a crowded and competitive landscape.